Quotable Moments

"It's a bad day to be a duck!" --Susanne Scott referring to the ducks on the frozen pond at Glorieta

"Get off the bed! Get off the bed! I need to do something." --Crumpy (I have NO idea what he was talking about!)

"I'm going to steal one of these." --Rita, holding a WWJD bracelet in the Lifeway Bookstore. (That is what I heard, she says she didn't say that!) :)

"I don't have many twenty-dollars." --Debby Adams, referring to the cost of her parking ticket. (See her blog for details.)

"You lost it when I met you." --Tim to me, referring to my personal space.

My Mentor, My Mirror

I love Jen Kelsey. There are people in your life that suck life out of you, and then there are people who breathe life back into you. Jen is one of those life-giving people. She encourages me so much I can get up and try again no matter how many times I fall on my face.

She lets me cry and talk and be honest. She asks me questions, lets me think, pushes me gently in new directions, corrects me, and loves me regardless of what I "do" or "don't do." She will listen; she will offer advice; she makes time for me. I love her, and she has my heart so I will follow her no matter how hard the road is that she asks me to walk down. When she rebukes me, I listen and cry and try again.

Each time I am around her, I am humbled by her love for me. I want to love like that. She has more health problems than anyone else I know, and yet you would never know that talking to her. I want to be selfless like that. Jen is selfless, optimistic, fun, wise, and more like Jesus each day.

She makes me think of 1 John 4:10 which says, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

Jen loved me before I loved her. She wanted me in her life before I wanted her. She loved first, and because of that love, I have grown to love her and "follow" her example. It is because Jen loves me regardless of my behavior that gives me freedom to fail and be forgiven and to keep following and trusting her. What a great living example she is of 1 John 4:10.

Is it just me, or is it hard for anyone else to accept (in your head and heart) that God is the same way (but to perfection)? I know Jen is not perfect and I am not in any way "worshipping" her. But she mirrors this biblical truth so clearly, it helps me believe (in action of heart) 1 John 4:10 better. I see a human with weaknesses loving like that, I think, of course GOD can do that! He does everything perfect!

She is the mirror that reflects 1 John 4:10 to me. I know it is Christ in Jen that I see. It is not Jen in herself who can do that, it is Christ living in her that loves, that is sacrificial, that is forgiving. I look at my life and think, "What am I mirroring? What truth(s) do I display in lifestyle?" I need far more of Jesus and a whole lot less of me.

My challenge to you is tell people in your life what they are mirroring for you. What verse do you see them living out? What biblical truth do they help you believe and act on better? Let's all be life-givers.

"Are you my Husband? Are you my husband" (Girls, you will get this title)

Sometimes I feel like Toula from My Big Fat Greek Wedding. You know the opening scene when her father says in his thick, Greek accent, "You look so old! You need to get married!" Yeah, that scene is a chapter out of my life. I have bets with my dad each holiday which of my family members will ask me the dreaded question first. "So, are you dating anyone?"

In college it was kind of cute. Now, it is an annoying reminder that people just don't get me. It is like I am choosing to be "weird" and not marry out of spite or something. Like my dating life is in my control! (I guess if I was "in the world" it might very well be.)

This past week at Glorieta we had an amazing woman named Melody come speak to the girls. She was hi-larous and very much the kind of woman I want to be someday. She too was "single" and has to desire to be married. (By the way, she also said to be truly "single," you need to be at least 25. Check!)

She said something that was somewhat discouraging for us singletons who want to be married, but very true. She said in former years a speaker would probably say to a group like us, "You know MOST of you will be married someday" or "Marriage is what God has in store for MOST of you." Now, however, she doesn't think that is true. Instead, she amended the statement to something like, "MANY of you will be married, and MANY of you will not."

Ouch. It is probably 100% true, and the truth hurts. She also spoke of contentment....and that many times we try to kill any desire to marry so we can say we are "content." Instead of KILLING hope or the desire to be married, she said we have to learn to grieve it. Grieve the loss if getting married by x age, or grieve the loss of having kids, or grieve the loss whatever it is.

Americans say "I do" more than any other industrialized democracy with 9 new marriages for every 1,000 people. Idaho, where 60% of people over 15 are hitched, has the largest percentage of married couples (not moving there). New York, has the fewest marriages, with 50% of the population still single (hmmm).

Luckily, it is normal to marry a bit later in life. Today, the average bride is 25.1 years old with their groom averaging 26.8. At the age of 102, Minnie Monroe became the oldest bride when she married to Dudley Reid, 82. Hope still is alive.

My Tanks are: FULL

I'm tired this morning, but it is a good tired. Yesterday was a good and encouraging day thanks to my many friends.

I had the great HONOR of going out with some of my favorite people in the world. Crumpy, Beck, and Tim (all looking strikingly handsome I might add) picked Allison, Kate and I up for dinner in OKC. We got poems, flowers, and for mucho romantical points, the car seats and floors were covered with rose-pedals! Nice details boys! We went to eat at Zio's and walked around Bricktown afterwards taking pictures and laughing A LOT. It was a wonderful night!

I would give you some of the quotes from the night that we collected for my quote book, but looking at them this morning I decided not to. I think it would give the wrong impression of our night. Ask me about them and I will give you some--all out of context of course. Guys, we felt VERY honored and appreciated, so thank you so much!

I also got the greatest gift from Debby Jean Adams. She made a "Boyfriend in a Box" for me. The boyfriend was Jesus! It came complete with a "profile" of my man, wallet-sized photos, post-it messages that He's left me, five love letters, and a framed picture of me and Jesus. (Yes, there is an actual picture of me with "Jesus." It is stinkin' awesome) It made my day when I opened it. Not only was it super fun it was pure, Biblical encouragement!

I want to share some of my favorite parts: These are from Jesus' profile sheet: "Interests: The souls of men, Holly Kimbrough, teaching, praying, the world. Hobbies: Fishing for men, hangin' with the disciples, healing, walking on water, miracles, raising the dead."

I also received five love letters. As I read them this morning, I was reminded of how new and fresh the Bible is each time I look at it. Each letter contained verses, but as they were written to me, they truly seemed like love letters. How cool it is for me to hear these word in that context. I talked a lot the last couple of blogs about men and women and such. One of the letters I read summed up what I was saying. Jesus truly is the greatest lover and supporter. Here is one of the "love letters" I received:

My dear love, Holly, I will not in any way fail you nor give up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake not let you down or relax My hold on you! Assuredly not! So take comfort and be encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm. I will not fear or dread or be terrified. What can man do to me? Love, The Lover of Your Soul (Hebrews 13:5-6)

That is the perfect love letter. My tanks are full. Thanks Debby, Kevi, Tim, and Beck.

I've never been more homesick than now....

I'm so ready to go home and get away for a while. My last month has been horrible, and if I don't get some down time I will explode. It doesn't help that home can be just a crazy and stressful, but at least I can stop.



Christmas used to be a calming time. All the old carols about "peace on earth and good will toward men" and "silent night" have been replaced with "rockin' around the Christmas tree" and "grandma got run over by a reindeer." Apparently, even reindeer are in a hurry these days.

In our rushed and pushed society, I can see why so many people get the Christmas blues. Instead of forgiveness and the benefit of the doubt, we hold grudges, accuse, and look out for number one. How sad are we--caught up in the here and now? It makes me ashamed of myself, yet I keep giving into the tyranny of the urgent. I am yearning for a calming of the soul.

I’ve been yearning for Jesus to come more and more as I get older. This year, I must admit, I have prayed more than once that He would not terry. There is a song by MercyMe called “Homesick.” If you’ve never heard it, please listen to it. I can hear the strings and the music right now, It calms me.

Part of the chorus explains exactly what I have been feeling: “Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow. I've never been more homesick than now.”

I feel so undeserving of anything good from the Lord. It is hard for me to accept His grace and gifts. It’s humbling because I know there is nothing in me that deserves it at all. But that’s grace--unmerited favor. I realize, I can only display the measure of grace to others that I have experienced myself. Hmm. The way I am feeling, it seems, I need to experience much more of God's grace.

The Pot Pie Question

As you know, www.hollyihaveaquestion.blogspot.com is devoted to the answering of questions posed to me each and every day. Of course, if no one has a question, I get the freedom to write on any topic. But today my wonderful, beautiful roommate's blog, posed a question that hits at the very heart of who I am. I must answer. Let me quote for Amy's question for you:

"Sigh. Holly doesn't like Pot Pie. I think she is morally opposed to it. Let me plunge into the depths of this. Is it just because Holly is such a hard worker and throwing everything together to cook is just a cop out? Is it that nothing has a good texture when smothered in gravy? Texture is quite important to allergy sufferers. Who knows?"

Well, Miss Van Dyck, I know why I do not like pot pie. One-"POT pie" Does that sound good to you--POT pie. Due to my reading audience, I cannot fully disclose what this word makes me think of...but think with me where else we use the word POT in our everyday life. Hmm. Disgusting.



On top of that, is the misuse of the word "pie." Pie makes me think of sweet things.....a warm, sweet, dessert. SO to say "pie" and then it is this mixture of leftover rejects carefully disguised in gravy and crust is just wrong! Some may say IMMORAL. We are to let our "yes" be "yes" and our "no" be "no". When you say there is pie, you should mean real PIE not a runny mixture of brown and green nothingness.



When we add texture (mushiness) and the lack of design and forethought I am close to appalled that this is served to children across American. *Gag*



I am too emotional about this topic. It is too close to me, so I must leave my arguement to that. I hope, dear Amy, this answers your question. Can't we just have enchiladas and all get along?

Long-term Road Trip

God tends to teach me things in themes. This semester I am starting to see He is teaching me about baggage--both my own and others. I don't know one person that doesn't have at least a small bag they they carry with them in life Others are so loaded down that they can barely move.



As I learn how to disciple girls, (and when I say disciple, I mean teach them more than the how to's and the why's, but get into the gunk of their lives), I have seen one thing--baggage will be there...it's what we do with it that matters.



For instance, did you know baggage is easy to hide behind? It keeps you and me safe from others ever knowing the "real us". It keeps us protected from criticism, from rejection, even from having to take those risks that are required for healthy relationships. Of course, with baggage in front of us, it’s awfully difficult to see where we're going. And it’s pretty lonely too…. Isolated, sitting in our little corner of the world, surrounded by our baggage. *Sigh*

The worst part about carrying around all this baggage is that it becomes our identity. We don’t know who we are, only what we carried around. (Abuse. Anger. Depression. Addictions. Resentments. Selfishness. Painful childhood. Shame. Guilt. People pleasing. Defeat. Codependency.)

The trouble with baggage is that when it’s your only identity, you have to do a lot to try to make it as presentable as possible. As long as everything looks pretty on the surface, no one will notice how bad it really is deep inside. Hmm.



No one....except God. He notices. He knows what’s behind the cover-up.

David writes in Psalm 139 (The Message Bible)

“I'm an open book to you;

even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking.

You know when I leave and when I get back;

I'm never out of your sight.

You know everything I'm going to say

before I start the first sentence….

You know me inside and out.”

You see, the thing about God is that He knows everything about us. And He is not content to leave us lugging around baggage. He loves us too much for that.

One of the most amazing things about God is that nothing is ever wasted with Him. He will use all our experiences, all our desires and passions, all our talents and abilities, all our personality (with it’s quirks and uniqueness)….. and even all our pain, to grow and transform us into the person He created you and I to be.



So this year is about me unpacking my baggage and replacing it with my New Clothes (identity in Christ), and then helping others do the same, so that they can help others do the same.....